Welcome to the UTHealth Houston School of Behavioral Health Sciences. This page serves as a central resource for students across our graduate degrees.
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Laptop requirements
Students enrolled in the UTHealth Houston School of Behavioral Health Sciences are required to have a laptop that meets university technology and security standards. A compliant laptop is essential for coursework, online learning activities, assessments, research, communication, and access to university resources.
To ensure compatibility with required software and learning platforms, laptops must meet the specifications outlined below and be no more than three years old at the time of orientation.
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Approved devices
Students may use a laptop running either:
- Windows 11 Pro (or newer supported version)
- macOS (current supported version)
The device must meet or exceed the minimum hardware and security specifications listed below.
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Device restrictions
To support online testing platforms and maintain compliance with university and State of Texas technology policies, certain devices and configurations are not supported, including:
- ASUS laptops
- Lenovo laptops
- Windows devices using ARM-based processors (such as Qualcomm Snapdragon)
- Windows 11 devices operating in S Mode
- Dual-boot operating systems
Students should also ensure their device complies with the State of Texas Prohibited Technology Policy.
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Minimum recommended specifications
Mac
- 13-inch screen or larger
- Apple M2 processor or newer
- 16 GB RAM minimum
- 256 GB SSD storage minimum
- Current supported macOS version
- FileVault full-disk encryption enabled
- Integrated webcam and microphone
- Reliable Wi-Fi connectivity
Windows
- 13-inch screen or larger
- Intel Core i5 (12th generation or newer) or AMD Ryzen 7000 series processor or newer
- 16 GB RAM minimum
- 256 GB SSD storage minimum
- Windows 11 Pro
- BitLocker full-disk encryption enabled
- TPM 2.0 security chip required
- Windows Defender antivirus
- Integrated webcam and microphone
- Reliable Wi-Fi connectivity
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Internet connectivity
Students should have access to a dependable high-speed internet connection suitable for:
- Streaming lectures
- Virtual meetings
- Online coursework
- Remote assessments and examinations
Recommended minimum speeds:
- Download: 20 Mbps
- Upload: 5 Mbps
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Security requirements
Before orientation, students must:
- Enable full-disk encryption (BitLocker for Windows or FileVault for Mac)
- Set a secure password
- Activate screen lock after 15 minutes of inactivity
- Keep operating system updates current
- Store encryption recovery keys in a secure location
Students are strongly encouraged to maintain regular backups of important files using approved university storage solutions.
Protecting University, Research, and Clinical Information
Students may have access to university, research, clinical, or other sensitive information during their studies. To protect privacy and maintain compliance with university policies, university-related data should only be stored in approved locations, such as:
- UTHealth OneDrive
- Approved university file-sharing platforms
- Authorized encrypted storage devices
Sensitive university information should not be stored on unapproved devices or services.
Orientation and Device Verification
Students are required to bring their laptop to orientation for technology verification and configuration.
During orientation, university technology staff may:
- Verify hardware and software compliance
- Confirm required security settings
- Configure access to university networks and resources
- Assist with VPN and wireless connectivity
A compliant laptop is necessary for participation in required coursework, online assessments, and other academic activities.
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Need assistance?
Questions regarding technology requirements should be directed to the School of Behavioral Health Sciences Academic Affairs team or university technology support staff.
Technology Support Contact
Matthew Skaggs
Email: [email protected]